Director Quantity Surveyor

Vertical Recruitment Limited; Greater London; On-site; GBP 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Vertical Recruitment Limited is seeking an established Director or Partner for a leading property and construction consultancy in London. You will shape the London business, combine senior client delivery with business development, and build a high‑performing team for long‑term growth.

This hands‑on leadership role offers genuine influence over strategy and market position, with the potential for equity for the right individual. MRICS status and a strong London network are essential.

Qualifications

• Strong background in quantity surveying, cost management or employer's agent disciplines.
• Established network within the London property/construction market.
• Proven ability to win work and convert relationships into appointments.
• Experience leading complex, high‑value projects.
• Strong commercial awareness and understanding of financial performance of a consultancy.
• Experience leading and developing teams.
• Credibility to advise sophisticated clients at senior level.
• Experience across prime residential, high-end refurbishments, residential development, commercial or hospitality would be relevant.

Responsibilities

• Shaping and delivering the London growth strategy.
• Developing existing client relationships and creating new ones.
• Converting your network into high‑quality, profitable appointments.
• Personally leading selected strategic and high‑value commissions.
• Building and developing a high‑performing London team.
• Taking ownership of pipeline, revenue, profitability and commercial performance.
• Identifying priority clients, sectors and market opportunities.
• Maintaining senior oversight of key commissions and client relationships.
• Recruiting, mentoring and developing future leaders.
• Contributing to the wider strategy and direction of the consultancy.

Skills

Quantity Surveying

Cost Management

Employer's Agent

London network

Winning work

Team leadership

Senior client advisory

Education

MRICS chartered status

Job description

A rare opportunity has arisen for an established Director or Partner-level professional to take a leading role in the growth of a successful property and construction consultancy's London business.

This is not a traditional Director appointment or a role focused purely on managing an existing team.

The successful individual will be given genuine influence over the direction, growth and market position of the London operation, combining senior client delivery and business development with responsibility for building the team and shaping the business over the long term.

For the right individual, there is also the potential for the position to develop into a long-term equity opportunity.

The Opportunity

The business is an established and highly regarded consultancy with an existing London presence, client base and live project portfolio.

The appointment is about taking that platform through its next stage of growth.

You will have the autonomy and backing to develop the London business while remaining part of an established wider consultancy. This will include strengthening existing client relationships, creating new opportunities, growing the team and further developing the firm's position within the London market.

Importantly, this is a hands-on Partner-level role.

You will remain close to clients and projects, personally leading selected high-value commissions while progressively building a team around you and creating a sustainable, profitable London operation.

Your Role

You will take responsibility for the performance and continued development of the London business, including:

• Shaping and delivering the London growth strategy
• Developing existing client relationships and creating new ones
• Converting your network into high-quality, profitable appointments
• Personally leading selected strategic and high-value commissions
• Building and developing a high-performing London team
• Taking ownership of pipeline, revenue, profitability and commercial performance
• Identifying priority clients, sectors and market opportunities
• Maintaining senior oversight of key commissions and client relationships
• Recruiting, mentoring and developing future leaders
• Contributing to the wider strategy and direction of the consultancy

Who We're Looking For

This opportunity will suit an established Director, Partner or ambitious Associate Director within a property or construction consultancy who combines technical credibility with genuine commercial capability.

You are likely to have:

• A strong background in Quantity Surveying, Cost Management, Employer's Agent or a related consultancy discipline
• An established network within the London property and construction market
• A proven ability to win work and convert relationships into appointments
• Experience leading complex, high-value projects
• Strong commercial awareness and an understanding of the financial performance of a consultancy business
• Experience leading and developing teams
• The credibility to advise sophisticated clients at senior level
• MRICS chartered status - essential

Experience across prime residential, high-end refurbishment, residential development, commercial or hospitality would be particularly relevant.

The Individual

Beyond experience, this appointment requires someone with the personality and ambition to build something.

You will be entrepreneurial, commercially astute and well connected, but equally collaborative and comfortable operating as part of a wider business.

You should enjoy being in the market - developing relationships, creating opportunities and representing a business - while retaining the technical credibility to remain close to major clients and projects.

This isn't a role for someone looking to step away from delivery into a purely corporate leadership position. It is for someone who wants to combine clients, projects, people and commercial leadership at Partner level.

Why This Opportunity Is Different

There is already an established platform, live work and existing client relationships. The opportunity is to take ownership of that platform and determine what the next stage looks like.

You will have genuine influence over:

• The clients and sectors the London business targets
• How the team develops and grows
• Senior recruitment and succession planning
• Key client relationships and strategic commissions
• The commercial performance of the London operation
• Its longer-term position within the London market

Most importantly, this is intended to be a long-term leadership appointment rather than simply the next salaried Director role.

Subject to performance, alignment and the agreed structure, there is the potential for the successful individual to develop towards a long-term equity position within the business.

For an established industry leader who wants the autonomy to build, influence and ultimately share in the success of what they create, this represents a genuinely unique opportunity.

All enquiries and conversations will be treated in the strictest confidence